RUGBY/European Challenge Cup: Connacht outhalf Andrew Dunne refuses to buy into the black-and-white definition of his career. Sure, he is the focus of attention this week after landing a late drop-goal and penalty to see off a Newcastle team that included Jonny Wilkinson and the All Black goliath Carl Hayman.

The immediate plus from the performance was it dispelled the long-standing perception of Dunne as a purely running outhalf.

"I was reasonably pleased with it," he admits. "He (Wilkinson) is world class, but it's not like it's a one-on-one contest between outhalves; they're very dependent on the pack in front of them . . . Our pack were excellent last week."

Much love to the offensive line, as he might say if an NFL quarterback.

Those in the trenches of Irish rugby will be aware of Dunne's vast potential since he lit up the Leinster Schools Cup in the late 1990s as a Belvedere schoolboy and played Irish schools alongside Donncha O'Callaghan, Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy.

He has the rare ability to decide a game with a flick of the wrist or a quick step.

Unfortunately, he has been cursed by injuries at Leinster and in the English Premiership with Bath and Harlequins.

But he dismisses the theory that he is constantly crocked. His Connacht debut in pre-season against the Springboks did end in misery, and a 10-week lay-off due to knee damage, but he notes that was his first serious setback in two years.

"I just wasn't getting picked much," he explains. "That injury was frustrating to a point but in modern-day rugby there are people dropping like flies in nearly every match. It's just part of the game. I knew I'd be back in a couple of months and I'm back now so I put it behind me."

A return from England to Leinster last season saw him largely confined to some, albeit outstanding, performances in the AIL.

With Munster picking off Paul Warwick, Connacht drafted in the Australian Tim Donnelly and Dunne.

Donnelly was given his chance but coach Michael Bradley has recently edged toward the fit-again native talent.

"I didn't get many opportunities last year but it just didn't work out," he says philosophically.

"I want to keep playing professional rugby so I jumped at this chance. I feel like I have a lot of time left in me yet. I have low mileage," he adds.

Now 28, Dunne has waited a long time to live up consistently to a glittering schools career, but last weekend's effort gives him a great platform as the Connacht pack bid to repeat the process on Tyneside this Sunday.

"First and foremost, beating Newcastle was great for confidence," he says. "It will help us to keep improving because it is very hard when you are not getting results.

"I think there is room for improvement all round. We didn't function in quite a few areas, even though we won. We butchered a few opportunities as well. People say we caught them on the hop but I think we could have actually won by more points on the day. We can improve in a good few areas.

"I've only played a couple of matches so I want to maintain my form. I played for Belvo about a month ago, then I played half an hour against Ulster and then two in a row. You could barely call it a run at this stage.

"I want to get an extended period in the team. That would be my aim."